Support for the Turkish Cypriot community

0,19 billion

Support for the Turkish community in Cyprus and the integration/reunification of the island

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DG / Responsible Agencies:REFORM

Potential beneficiaries

The program targets different stakeholders in the Turkish Cypriot community: nongovernmental organizations, small and medium-sized enterprises, farmers, students and teachers.

Description and objectives

The program aims to facilitate the reunification of Cyprus through socioeconomic and confidence-building measures. It focuses particularly on the economic integration of the island, encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community and improving contacts between the two communities and with the EU. The program also aims to prepare the Turkish Cypriot community for the adoption of the EU body of law (acquis communautaire), although it is effectively suspended in areas where the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control.

The program takes into account the legal and political difficulties of operating in a de facto divided island and is considered an assistance program is exceptional, transitory and temporary in nature.

Types of actions and projects

The program funds studies, services, supplies and works to support the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community.

The main specific actions financed relate to social and economic development, infrastructure investment, reconciliation, confidence-building and support for civil society, and moving closer to the EU (including legal and standards). More specifically, the program has the following objectives:

• Infrastructure development and restructuring;
• Promotion of social and economic development;
• Promotion of reconciliation, confidence-building measures and support for civil society;
• Approach of the Turkish Cypriot community to the EU;
• Preparation of the Turkish Cypriot community to introduce and implement the acquis, in view of the withdrawal of its suspension.

Despite serious difficulties due to the diplomatic, legal and political environment on the island, the aid program remains ready to accommodate developments in the resolution process and to fund confidence-building measures arising from that process.

Highlights

The program stands in full continuity with its predecessor.